College of Business Advisory Board Member John Wees, Director of Enterprise Accounts, United Parcel Service, Retired
More than 20 years ago, when John Wees was mid-career at UPS, his manager suggested that, to enhance his chances for promotion and advancement, an advanced degree would be a good idea. For John, Bellevue University was not only nearby, but was starting to offer online classes. He enrolled and earned his MBA in 2003. “As a student, I discovered that my business experience was valued by my fellow students and professors, and it significantly impacted and influenced my academic performance. It was clear to me then that Bellevue University was truly an institution that provided – and expected – high-level learning.
“I was able to bring real-world examples and problems to the classroom, and work with both peers and younger voices to explore cutting-edge principles and develop solutions, which I then actually took back to my company and applied at a Fortune 50 company – while earning my MBA.”
It didn’t take long after that for John to be asked to join our Advisory Board to offer insights into what companies like UPS were looking for in the future from their management resources.
“Serving on the Advisory Board reinforced how committed Bellevue University is to develop a highly marketable product: graduates who make an impact in their chosen fields, and employees who make their companies grateful for having sent them to Bellevue University to hone their skills and bring a competitive advantage back with them.
“During my tenure on the Board, I have witnessed the development of several innovative degree programs in areas like Human Capital Management and Supply Chain Management, which hadn’t been widely available in the marketplace before. These degree programs are comprised of coursework and suggestions derived from Board input and discussions. This was just the beginning of Bellevue University leading in offering coursework that businesses would need years into the future.
“One exciting new program the Board has had early insights into is the Doctor of Business Administration. We were witness to seeing Bellevue University build the curricula to develop leaders that already enjoy high levels of learning and business experience and taking them to new levels. This is one of the reasons I have really enjoyed my time on the COB Advisory Board.”